Be wary of those who want to disarm you

It was the Founding Fathers’ effort to provide a safeguard against an over-reaching government that may not value its citizens’ individual rights.

Self-serving politicians seek and thrive on power. A smart citizen should be wary of those who aggressively seek to disarm you, often using inaccurate information. Pause to think why.

Ed Saint Sing, Mooresville

More Muslims must reject these acts

Following the Orlando massacre President Obama said groups like ISIL “want to claim that they are the true leaders of over a billion Muslims around the world who reject their crazy notions.”

If there really are over a billion Muslims who reject the ISIS message and terrorist acts, where are they, and why are they not rising up to destroy this group who is perverting their religion?

If only a small percentage of this billion Muslims would act to end the madness it might end.

I see no evidence of such a will among the Muslim population to act.

Larry Martin, Charlotte

Pulling out your handgun no solution

In response to “This jihad against guns is misguided” (June 15 Forum):

Just for the sake of argument, let’s say the people in that Orlando nightclub had indeed been carrying guns and pulled them to take out the attacker: How many more innocent people would have been cut down in the ensuing crossfire?

If you don’t understand that, you have no business giving advice about firearms use.

Woody Mitchell, Mint Hill

Gun violence in Chicago barely noted

The Orlando massacre cannot and should not be diminished. Yet as of April 21, the 2016 casualty rate from shootings in Chicago cleared 1,000 dead and wounded. Victims and apparent perpetrators are mostly minorities and poor.

Presidential candidates do not give name to or offer solutions to this horror. National media barely cover it.

Young men of the streets call their city Chiraq, and not because the carnage is carried out by “radical Islamic terrorists.”

Ed Hinson, Charlotte

HB2 has sent the wrong message

In response to “Chef says assailants used gay slurs” (June 8) and “Hatred of gay people must stop in America” (June 14 Forum):

By passing House Bill 2, the legislature has sent the message that it is OK to bully and discriminate against people who are different from you.

The young chef who was attacked uptown by a group of narrow-minded bullies and the ugly remark made to Forum writer Gerringer Clapp are just two examples.

Could we even set a worse example for our children and the rest of the world?

Diana Cloninger, Claremont

Trump doesn’t get role of judiciary, press

In response to “Trump says he is revoking Washington Post credentials” (June 14):

An independent judiciary and a free press are crucial foundations of our country’s rule of law and democracy.

Donald Trump’s personal attack on a federal district judge and revocation of the press credentials of The Washington Post and other news organizations from joining the traveling press corps of his campaign undermine and offend both of these foundations.

Ward McKeithen, Charlotte

Pampered athletes are a stark contrast

I have been a sports fan most of my life and a Panthers fan since their original season. But, I am finding it more difficult each year to get excited when the major stories are about contract negotiations.

Many in the world goes to bed hungry every night and these pampered athletes, who are all making a ludicrous salaries, demand more and more.